How to Write a No-Experience Cover Letter (Free Sample & Tips)

Let’s face it: writing a cover letter is hard enough – but writing one without experience? That can feel impossible.

You’re staring at a blank page, wondering how to sell yourself when your resume feels a little… bare. And let’s be real, the pressure to stand out in a sea of applicants doesn’t make it any easier.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need years of experience to write a killer cover letter.

Employers hiring for entry-level roles care more about your potential, enthusiasm, and transferable skills than your job history.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to write a no-experience cover letter that gets noticed. Here’s what we’ll cover:

6 Key Components of a No-Experience Cover Letter
Cover Letter Template and Example
6 Tips for Writing a No-Experience Cover Letter
4 Common Mistakes to Avoid

And more. Let’s dive in!

Want to impress the hiring manager with your no-experience cover letter? Use our professional cover letter builder to perfect it!

Choose a cover letter template to get started.

Can I Write a Cover Letter With No Experience?

Yes, you can write a good cover letter even if you don’t have relevant work experience.

A no-experience cover letter is your chance to show employers why you’re a great fit. All you have to do is take the focus away from what you haven’t done, and instead highlight what you bring to the table. Mention your transferable skills (like teamwork, communication, or problem-solving), enthusiasm for the role, and any relevant achievements from school, volunteering, or extracurriculars.

This type of cover letter works best for entry-level jobs, internships, or complete career changes. In all these instances, employers are more interested in your attitude and potential than in your resume.

So, don’t stress about the lack of experience – focus on what makes you unique and eager to learn!

Are you trying to find a job with no experience? Learn how to write an impressive no-experience resume to get started!

6 Key Components of a No-Experience Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter without experience might feel intimidating, but breaking it down into clear sections makes it much easier.

Think of your cover letter as a story – it shows why you’re the perfect fit for the role, even without a professional background.

Now, we’ll walk you through the six essential parts of a no-experience cover letter and how to nail each one.

#1. Professional Template

An effective cover letter is about making a good impression, and before the hiring manager reads it, they’re going to look at it

That’s exactly why you should use a well-formatted, stylish template:

Just choose one of our HR-approved cover letter templates, and you’ll be all set in no time!

As a bonus, our intuitive AI will suggest ways to improve your cover letter as you write it. You’ll have the perfect cover letter done in minutes!

Learn more about the sections of a cover letter by reading our detailed guide!

#2. Header and Contact Information

Like your resume, your cover letter should start with the contact information on top. Place this information in the header, separate from the body text, and keep it simple and error-free. This section is all about attention to detail!

Here’s what to include:

Your Name. Use your full name (e.g., Jane Doe).
Job Title. We recommend matching this to the role you’re applying for (e.g., Marketing Intern).
Phone Number. Make sure it’s a number you check regularly.
Email Address. Use an easy-to-read, professional email (e.g., jane.doe@gmail.com, not partygirl99@email.com).
Location. The city and state/country are more than enough. (e.g., Salt Lake City, Utah)
Relevant Links (optional). If you have a LinkedIn profile or the position requires a portfolio, include a link to it here.

Then, add the hiring manager’s contact information, including:

Hiring Manager's Name. Try to look up the hiring manager’s name and add it. This is usually listed on the job ad or company website.
Hiring Manager's Title. We recommend using the hiring manager’s exact job title, whether that’s head of the department you’re applying to or CEO. However, if you can’t find it, “Hiring Manager” works fine.
Company Name. Include the name of the company or organization you’re applying to.
Location. If the employer has more than one location in the same city, you can add a street address. Otherwise, the city and state/country are more than enough,
Date of Writing (optional). Adding the date you wrote your cover letter is a nice professional touch but not mandatory.

#3. Personalized Greeting

Start your letter on the right foot by addressing the hiring manager directly. Avoid generic and impersonal phrases like “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To whom it may concern.”

Do some research on the company. If you can find out who the hiring manager is, addressing them by their name creates a personal connection off the bat. Some examples include:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Full Name]
Dear [Ms./Mr.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name]

Just don’t get too casual with it. No hiring manager is going to be impressed by “Dear Alex” - this is a professional document, after all.

That being said, there’s no guarantee you’ll find a name. In that case, you can use something like:

Dear [Department] Team
Dear [Department] Manager
Dear [Company Name] Team
Dear Hiring Manager

#4. Opening Paragraph

If you want the hiring manager to go through the rest of your cover letter, you need to start strong. Pique their curiosity so that they want to get to know you!

The main thing to remember when it comes to your opening paragraph is not to be generic. You don’t want your cover letter to make you sound like hundreds of other applicants.

Instead, do the following:

Briefly introduce yourself, mention the specific job you’re applying for, and highlight one or two key qualities that make you perfect for the role (e.g. “As a recent graduate with strong organizational skills and a passion for customer service, I’m thrilled to apply for the Retail Associate position at [Company Name].”).
Show enthusiasm by explaining why you’re excited about the opportunity for this role or company.
Use a professional but confident tone; after all, the hiring manager won’t be impressed if you’re second-guessing yourself from the start.

To give you an idea, here are two examples of an opening paragraph:

Incorrect Example:

Hi,

I’m applying for the job you posted. I don’t have any experience, but I need this job. I’m a hard worker and think I’d be good at it. Please give me a chance.

As you can see, this candidate doesn’t mention the specific role or company, focuses on their lack of experience, and lacks enthusiasm and professionalism.

Correct Example:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’m excited to apply for the Marketing Intern position at [Company Name]. As a recent graduate with a degree in Communications and a passion for creative problem-solving, I’ve honed my skills in content creation and social media management through class projects and volunteer work. I’m eager to bring my enthusiasm and fresh perspective to your team and contribute to [Company Name]’s innovative marketing strategies.

See the difference? The second opening paragraph sets the tone for the entire cover letter by showing enthusiasm and connecting the candidate’s greatest strengths to the company’s needs.

#5. Body Paragraphs

The body of your cover letter is where you get to sell yourself as the perfect candidate, even if when have no experience.

Here’s how to ace this part:

Focus on important skills. Highlight any relevant skills you have. Without work experience, these will likely be soft skills like teamwork, time management, or communication, depending on what the role requires.
Show achievements. Prove your skills and what you can bring to the company through specific achievements. These can be related to school, volunteering, or extracurricular activities, such as leading a group project or organizing an event.
Align with the job. Always use keywords from the job description to show you’ve done your homework and pay attention to detail. This is going to help the hiring manager see past what you’re missing and instead focus on what you’re offering them.

Let’s look at an example:

Body Paragraphs Example:

During my time as a student, I developed strong organizational and communication skills through group projects and leadership roles. For example, as the team leader for a class marketing project, I coordinated tasks, delegated responsibilities, and ensured our presentation was delivered on time and with high quality. This experience taught me how to collaborate effectively and manage deadlines—skills I’m eager to bring to the Administrative Assistant role at [Company Name].

Additionally, my volunteer work at the local library allowed me to build customer service skills by assisting patrons, organizing events, and managing inventory. I also used basic software tools to track data and create promotional materials, which aligns with the technical requirements of this role. I’m confident that my proactive attitude and ability to adapt quickly will make me a valuable asset to your team.

#6. Closing Paragraph

Finally, you want to end strong and leave the hiring manager wanting to meet you.

Here’s how:

Reiterate your excitement for the role. Show the hiring manager that you’re genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity and motivated to contribute to their team.
Use a call to action. Make it clear that you’re eager to discuss your qualifications further and take the next step in the hiring process.
Thank them for their time. Acknowledge their effort to review your application and show your appreciation.
Use a professional closing line. End your letter on a polished and respectful note to leave a positive final impression.

Here’s an example of a great way to end your cover letter:

Closing Paragraph Example:

I’m truly excited about the opportunity to contribute to [Company Name] and grow within this role. My passion for [industry/field], combined with my strong work ethic and eagerness to learn, makes me confident that I can add value to your team. I’d love to discuss how my skills and enthusiasm align with your needs.

Thank you for considering my application—I look forward to the possibility of speaking with you soon!

Best wishes,

Jane Doe

Alternatively, you can pick one of the following sign-offs:

Sincerely,
Best regards,
Kind regards,
Thank you,
Respectfully,

Browse Templates

6 Tips for Writing a No-Experience Cover Letter

Writing a no-experience cover letter doesn’t have to be daunting – it’s all about showcasing your potential and enthusiasm.

Here are some more practical cover letter tips to help you:

Focus on soft skills. Highlight qualities like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. These skills are often just as valuable as technical experience, especially for entry-level roles.
Use action verbs and power words. Instead of using passive language like “helped with” or “was responsible for”, include strong verbs like "organized," "led," and "collaborated" to make your letter dynamic. The right language can help you describe your achievements in a way that’s impactful and professional.
Keep it concise. Aim for a one-page letter that’s clear and to the point. Hiring managers don’t want your life story, so make every sentence count.
Show enthusiasm. Demonstrating genuine interest in the role and company can go a long way. Employers want to hire someone excited to learn and grow with their team, not just someone sending out job applications left and right.
Proofread. Hiring managers’ biggest red flags are sloppy grammar and typos. Take your time to proofread and edit your cover letter–it could cost you a job opportunity if you don’t.
Leverage AI. You should use every tech tool at your disposal to make the perfect no-experience cover letter, and that includes AI. Try ChatGPT to write a draft for your cover letter or ask it to adapt your finalized cover letter to a different position you want to apply to.

Plug & Play No-Experience Cover Letter Sample

Still feeling uninspired to write your cover letter? We don’t blame you – it can be tough to sell yourself when you don’t even have work experience to back you up.

To give you a hand, here’s a sample cover letter for a Marketing Assistant role you can customize with your details. Just replace the placeholders (in brackets) with your information, tweak the details to reflect your skills and qualifications, and you’re good to go!

Marketing Assistant Cover Letter Sample Text:

[Your Name]
[Your Job Title]

[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Location]
[LinkedIn Profile/Portfolio]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]

[Hiring Manager’s Title]
[Company Name]
[Company Location]
[Date of Writing]

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’m excited to apply for the Marketing Assistant position at [Company Name]. As a recent graduate with a degree in [Your Major] and a passion for creative storytelling, I’ve developed strong skills in content creation, social media management, and data analysis through class projects and internships. I’m eager to bring my enthusiasm and fresh perspective to your team and contribute to [Company Name]’s innovative marketing campaigns.

During my time at [University Name], I led a team project where we created and executed a social media strategy for a local nonprofit, increasing their engagement by 30% over three months. This experience taught me how to collaborate effectively, meet deadlines, and analyze performance metrics—skills I’m excited to apply in this role. Additionally, my internship at [Company/Organization Name] allowed me to assist with email marketing campaigns and event coordination, further honing my attention to detail and organizational abilities.

What excites me most about [Company Name] is your commitment to [specific company value or project, e.g., "sustainability" or "innovative digital marketing strategies"]. I admire how your team [specific example of something the company has done], and I’m confident that my creativity, adaptability, and eagerness to learn align perfectly with your goals.

Thank you for considering my application. I’d love the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your team. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address] to schedule a conversation. I look forward to the possibility of working together!

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

4 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even the best writers can make mistakes when writing a cover letter for their desired position. The stakes are just too high.

Here are some common cover letter mistakes to watch out for – and how to avoid them:

Being too generic. Avoid using a one-size-fits-all approach. Tailor each cover letter to the specific job and company to show you’ve done your homework. General cover letters are mostly good for first drafts, not job applications.
Focusing on lack of experience. Don’t apologize for having no experience – focus on what you can offer. Employers care more about your potential and enthusiasm. Besides, they likely already know you don’t have professional experience if you’re applying for an entry-level role.
Overloading with irrelevant information. Keep the content relevant to the job. Stick to skills, impressive achievements, and experiences that directly relate to the role.
Using an overly casual tone. Maintain a professional tone throughout. Avoid slang, emojis, or overly casual language – this is your chance to make a polished first impression.

Key Takeaways

You’ve made it to the end of our guide! High-five!

Now that we’ve walked you through all the steps of writing a no-experience cover letter, let’s just summarize everything we’ve learned so far:

Even without professional experience, you can highlight transferable skills, achievements, and enthusiasm to write an impressive cover letter.
A well-organized cover letter includes a header, personalized greeting, strong opening, detailed body paragraphs, and a polished closing.
Focus on transferable skills. Highlight skills from school, volunteering, or extracurricular activities that align with the job description.
Show the hiring manager you’ve done your research by connecting your strengths to the company’s needs and tailoring your cover letter to the role.
Avoid generic language, typos, and an overly casual tone. Your cover letter should be polished and to the point.
Employers want to hire candidates who want to learn and grow with their team, so let your enthusiasm shine through in your cover letter.